Student first MSU graduate to receive D.C. strategy center internship

by Kristin K. Anderson

June 14, 2002 - Austin Carson of Kentwood says his yearlong internship with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a non-profit government think tank in Washington, D.C., will be a turning point in his life, and he’s grateful for the debate training that helped him earn the opportunity.

Carson, the son of Bruce and Nancy Carson, received the 6th annual William J. Taylor Jr. Internship, which recognizes the outstanding training intercollegiate debate provides to students. He is the first Michigan State University student to receive the internship.

Candidates for the Taylor internship must be undergraduate or graduating senior policy debaters with interests in international affairs. Interns are selected on the basis of strong written and verbal communication skills, an exemplary debate record and demonstrated leadership potential.

Beginning in September, Carson, who graduated from MSU’s James Madison College in May, will spend a year at CSIS, a center dedicated to providing world leaders with strategic insights and policy solutions to current and emerging global issues.

Carson said he would like to focus on nuclear arms issues and policies during his year in Washington.

“Such issues are pertinent and crucial,” Carson said, “and I personally would feel very gratified to help figure out new ways to deal with problems between the United States and Russia.”

Carson, a 1998 graduate of East Kentwood High School, was a member of the MSU Debate Team, which earned the 2001-02 Cross Examination Debate Association’s Seasonal National Championship. He and his teammates received numerous awards and honors during his college debate career.

“Debate gives you a wide variety of research skills and exposes you to a great many subject areas across a great many disciplines, from government to academia,” Carson said. “These skills, plus public speaking skills, help you to know what you have to do to excel in the real world.”

He came to MSU because of the university’s debate program and developed an interest in the programs offered by James Madison College. He majored in international relations, and said his studies will serve him well when he joins the staff of CSIS.

“Austin brings a unique combination of intellect and passion to public policy issues,” said Sherman Garnett, dean of James Madison College. “I am sure he will be a great success at CSIS.”

Interns at CSIS write opinion pieces and editorials for publication and make presentations to the CSIS membership on projects they work on during the year.

“My internship will be an opportunity to build my resume, see if I have an interest in a career in politics or government service, or attend graduate school,” Carson said. “I’m also very interested in the possibility of coaching debate. I have a lot of diverse interests.”

While at MSU Carson earned the Honors College Scholarship for academic excellence, the A.V. Case Scholarship for academic and extracurricular achievements and was on the dean’s list.

At the suggestion of Alex Lennon, a former Harvard debater and CSIS intern who now is editor-in-chief of CSIS’s The Washington Quarterly, the organization established the internship in recognition of Taylor in 1996. Taylor served as senior vice president for international security affairs at CSIS until 1999. He also served as a professor and director of debate at West Point.